But the 35-year-old believes there is a more deep rooted problem with genuine drugs cheats in the sports.

“They have to take a hard line because cheats in the past have said it has been an accident and they don’t know they got it into their system,” he said.

“As a youngster coming in you can be naive to think you can just take your normal supplements but you can’t.

“The education needs to be more at grassroots level and just reinforce how important it is to look at the labels and make sure you are accountable for what goes within your system.

“The IAAF and the anti-doping bodies have to do better because we are way behind the drugs cheats.

“We all say athletes have to be accountable for what goes in their body but what about the people who advise these athletes like the coaches and nutritionists.

“They are still in the game feeding these athletes.

“Once one athlete gets caught another one comes into replace them.

“Until we get rid of the root of the problem we won’t solve it.

“No athlete comes into the sport saying I want to be a drugs cheat and be Olympic champion.

“They want to be Olympic champion and do it clean but they can get corrupted.

“We need to get the people who are corrupting them.”

Malcolm has paid a considerable personal price for drugs cheats after close friend Dwain Chambers cost him a world relay medal.

Chambers and Malcolm made up half the GB 4x100m relay team that raced to silver at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, also aided by Darren Campbell and Marlon Devonish.

But the British quartet had their medals taken away as a consequence of anchor-leg runner Chambers testing positive for a banned substance six months later.

“There have been a few sprinters in my time who could have cost me more medals,” said Malcolm.

“But I have always said in my career I can’t be hung up by that.

"When Dwain first failed the drug test, I was the first person he called.

"But what I heard in his voice was the disappointment and the fear.

"I was angry at him but I knew he was hurting.

"He apologised and we had our discussions and I have forgiven him for what he has done."

Warburton’s withdrawal is another major blow ahead of the Commonwealth Games for Team Wales with injuries and illness also forcing out world triathlon gold medallists Helen Jenkins and Non Stanford and cycling champion Becky James.

But Malcolm, who burst onto the senior scene as a teenager by winning Commonwealth Games silver in Malaysia in 1998, believes it is time for the new generation to try and realise the Team Wales medal target of 27 in Glasgow.

“No team wants bad news but I remember coming into the team when I was just 19 in my first Commonwealth Games,” Malcolm told BBC Radio Wales.

“I was maybe ranked 15th but came away with a silver medal.

“This is the time for the youngsters to step up and take an opportunity.

“The Commonwealths is a stepping stone to the Olympics and world championships.

WalesOnline is part of Media Wales, publisher of the Western Mail, South Wales Echo, Wales on Sunday and the seven Celtic weekly titles, offering you unique access to our audience across Wales online and in print.